"Why?! We dug together too, why can't we take it with us? What do you mean? You want to fight? Are you afraid of me?!" Xie Tianqi protested again!
"Shut up!" Xie Yushu said, pressing down on Xie Tianqi and turning to Liu Qiang.
"I know water is precious, but even if we don't install it, this little bit of water isn't enough for so many of you!"
Perhaps each of you can fill a water gourd, but how long can a gourd of water last?
I think we should cooperate. You let us fill a few gourds with water, and I'll take you to find a larger water source!
That way we'll all have water to drink, a win-win situation, how about it?
"Tch! What a big mouth you're making us talk about! You lead us to find water!"
Once you're deep in the mountains, do you even know which way is north, south, east, or west? Do you think we're fools, making fun of us?
One of Liu's brothers spoke up sarcastically.
Liu Qiang paused for a moment, then asked...
Why should we believe you?
Xie Yushu said loudly
"First, my maternal grandfather practiced medicine, and I went with him to collect herbs in the deep mountains, so I still know how to find my way in the deep mountains."
Secondly, there is no water on the surface, and there is no water underground either. The only place with water is the cliffs of high mountains, where water seeps down from the cliffs. Therefore, the only water source is in the high mountains.
The entire Qinglong Mountain range has only four exceptionally high mountains.
A mountain called Luoshen Mountain is located eighty miles north of this place in Lingbei County.
There is a mountain called Qianshan in Qingyang County, 120 miles south of this place. The four seasons are divided from the top of the mountain to the bottom of the mountain, and even birds cannot fly over it.
There is another mountain that is attached to Qianshan Mountain, and is slightly shorter than Qianshan Mountain, called Tiannv Mountain.
These mountains are deep in the heart of the mountain range, and the journey is long. It would be difficult to get close without nine lives. The closest one to us is Wuling Mountain, which is the fourth highest mountain range that we can vaguely see.
Legend has it that only those with exceptional martial arts skills can enter and experience the scenery of the mountains.
However, as the saying goes, "looking at a mountain makes you feel like you're running yourself ragged." We can vaguely see this mountain from the top now, but actually reaching it requires crossing several mountains and ridges. If you take the wrong turn, you might get lost and die of thirst in the mountains.
And I can guarantee that I will reach that mountain in the shortest distance and in the shortest time.
Third, and most importantly, we humans are not the only ones who know there is water there; the venomous snakes and wild beasts in this area have a much keener sense of smell than humans.
Even if you get there, who can guarantee that you can avoid these things and not get hurt?
I learned some methods of detoxification and wound treatment from my maternal grandfather! I wouldn't dare say that I can cure all kinds of wounds, but I'm definitely much better than you guys who know nothing!
"Do these advantages qualify me to discuss cooperation with you?"
After hearing this, the Liu family all looked at Liu Qiang and whispered among themselves for the time it takes to drink a bowl of tea. Then Liu Qiang said...
"We agree to cooperate with you! Let's each take a couple of sips of this water first, and then pack the rest to take with us. The sooner the better, so let's get moving!"
After Liu Qiang finished speaking, the Xie family breathed a sigh of relief and rushed forward to fetch water to drink. After such a tense standoff, the water, which had been murky like mud soup, had become clearer, and the group eagerly drank from it.
They said they would only drink a couple of sips, but everyone who got water would uncontrollably drink several more, wishing they could drink their fill. It was only because Liu Qiang repeatedly emphasized that if they didn't want to die of thirst on the way, they should leave themselves a way to survive, that everyone reluctantly gave up.
Even so, after everyone finished drinking, they only managed to fill seven gourds with water. The Liu family had more people, so they took four gourds, while the Xie family took three.
Liu Qiang naturally controlled the Liu family's water supply, while Xie Yushu decided to divide the three gourds of water in the Xie family: one gourd for her maternal family, one gourd for Zhan Yong, and one gourd for herself.
The water hyacinths weren't all the same size; Xie Baotian's and Xiao Yong's were slightly larger, while Xie Yushu's were smaller.
After everyone had finished distributing the water, the two groups joined together to find Old Man Xiao and Xie Yujiao to meet up.
When the group arrived, Old Man Xiao and Xie Yujiao were so thirsty they were dizzy and breathless. When they saw Xiao Yong, they rushed over and grabbed him, asking if he had any water.
Xie Yushu didn't intend to waste time waiting for them, so she went ahead to scout the way!
Xiao Yong took out a wooden cup and poured half a cup of water. Old Man Xiao snatched it like a madman and drank it all in two gulps. He then tried to grab the water gourd from Xie Yong's hand.
When Xie Yujiao saw the water, she rushed over to grab it like a madwoman, but was pushed back by Li Shi.
"Xie Yujiao, are you trying to get yourself killed! Do you know how much effort we put into getting this water? If you spill it, believe me, I'll drink your blood!"
"I want water! Give me water!"
Xie Yujiao lunged forward again to snatch it, but was firmly stopped by Li Shi.
"Wait, Dad will give it to you after he finishes drinking it, what are you fighting for!"
Over there, Xiao Yong held tightly to the water hyacinth.
"Father, we only have this much water, and we need to save it for the road. If you drink more, we won't have any left to drink on the road. We're almost at the point where we can find a water source. You can't let us all die of thirst on the road!"
Old Man Xiao became much more alert upon hearing this, but his eyes remained fixed on the water hyacinth. Xiao Yong couldn't bear it, so he poured another half cup for Old Man Xiao. Old Man Xiao drank it in small sips, and then steeled himself to turn his back and stop looking at the water hyacinth.
Xiao Yong poured another half cup for Xie Yujiao, then strode forward to catch up with Xie Yushu and her group. Seeing this, Li Shi hurriedly followed.
Xie Yujiao was still very thirsty after drinking half a cup of water. Seeing that Xiao Yong had already left with his men, she angrily chased after him, wanting to snatch the water back.
Li's annoyed rebuke
"Fourth brother's wife, you're not the only one thirsty. Everyone's thirsty, and we're all just trying to keep going. You drank all that water, and now we're all dying of thirst? You'd better shut up! If you can go, go; if you can't, go back. Nobody's going to put up with you!"
Xie Yujiao was furious but helpless against Li Shi. Not only was Li Shi her sister-in-law, but even if she were to shamelessly try to take it from her, she wouldn't be able to. Li Shi was not like her; she and Xiao Laoda did most of the farm work for the Xiao family and were very strong. She could beat Xie Yujiao as easily as playing with her. Therefore, without the support of Old Madam Xiao, Xie Yujiao dared not turn against Li Shi.
Thinking that Boss Xiao had gone with Xie Yushu, and that Boss Xiao had water, Xie Yushu must have water too, her first thought was to snatch water from Xie Yushu. But the next moment she remembered that Xie Yushu had been acting like a madwoman these past two days, not only daring to resist her but also daring to hit her, so she immediately hesitated.
However, she quickly spotted Xie Baotian and a few others in the crowd. Xie Yujiao's eyes darted around, and she immediately bypassed them to chase after them.
"Uncle, Second Uncle, you're here too!"
Xie Baotian nodded when Xie Yujiao called him.
"Yu Jiao!"
"Uncle, I'm dying of thirst, please give me a few sips of your water!" Xie Yujiao said as she reached for the water gourd that Xie Baotian was carrying.
Xie Baotian's face was rather grim; this water was their lifeline.
However, Xie Yujiao was his uncle's granddaughter, and his uncle was the head of the Xie family. He couldn't afford to offend him. Xie Baotian was in a dilemma, unsure whether to loosen his grip on the water gourd or not.
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